The Craft In Cornwall.

THE CRAFT IN CORNWALL .

The returns that were presented at the recent annual meeting at Helston of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall show that during the past year the Craft not only maintained its position , but is even more prosperous than at any previous period in

its history . The Provincial Grand Secretary reported a substantial increase in the number of subscribing members , and that there had been a very great improvement on the part of Secretaries of lodges in forwarding their annual returns . Bro .

G . B . PEA . RCE announced that the Cornwall Masonic Charity Association would require additional support during the ensuing year , not from any diminution in the number of its well-wishers , but because those who had made arrangements to contribute

certain sums had completed their payments . As regards the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund , it was shown that the subscriptions and donations received during the year amounted to £ 202 16 s ., as against £ 172 15 s . duringthe previous

year , the total income including £ 185 in respect of interest on invested capital , a railway debenture trust bond of £ 100 , and the balance brought forward , being £ 502 . The expenditure reached £ 185 only , so that the closing balance of the year was £ 317 .

There was also a considerable increase of £ 208 in the invested capital—from £ 4514 to £ 4722 , the amount received since the fund was established in 186 4 being £ 7 6 31 , and the amount expended in annuities , relief , educational grants , and

management £ 2908 . These figures are most creditable to a Province which has but 30 lodges on its roll , with an average of only 50 subscribing members per lodge . However , as there are many zealous Masons in Cornwall , men who readily give their services

whenever and in whatever form they may be required , it is not to be wondered at that a Province of comparatively moderate strength should have so excellent an account to render of its labours . One announcement that was made bv the Prov . G . M .

m his brief address must have been heard with considerable re ° ret . namely , that Bro . HUGHAN has found it necessary to surrender the task of editing the Cornwall Directory or Calendar into other hands . We believe that this is the senior of our Provincial

annuals , and we are aware that Bro . HUGHAN has superintended its publication from the very outset . However , though the actual work of compilation will be done—and no doubt well done—by Bro . T . GILL , Bro . HUGHAN will give him all the

advice and assistance in his power , so that the Provincial Directory of Cornwall will remain as complete and correct a guide as ever to all who desire information respecting the Craft in Cornwall .

Another Papal Encyclical.

ANOTHER PAPAL ENCYCLICAL .

His Holiness Pope LEO XIII . has addressed to his clergy another Encyclical Letter , in which the Freemasons and Socialists of Italy are mixed up together and both of them condemned

root and branch for their alleged hostility to religion and orderl y government . According to this letter the POPE does not propose " to say anything new , for facts have not changed from what they were . " His object is "to recapitulate these

facts in some way , and to group them in one picture , so as to draw out for general instruction the consequences that flow from them . " Without troubling ourselves to particularise the facts

which he adduces or the lessons he is desirous of impressing on his clergy , we may state that in this Encyclical , as in those which have preceded it , the POPE repeats his former error—the error which all previous Popes , in treating of our Fraternity , have

Another Papal Encyclical.

committed—of intimately connecting Freemasonry with societies and organisations to which its principles are diametrically opposed . There is no society in the civilised world which would suffer more disastrously from the triumph of what is commonly known

as Socialism than that of which , in this country at all events , we are the recognised organ . Freemasonry , wherever its teachings are loyally observed , will always be found ranged on the side of

law and order , while what we understand by Socialism is continuously engaged in planning their overthrow . Freemasonry , while it declines to exercise itself about mere differences of

religious opinion , inculcates in all its disciples the deepest respect for all religions , but Socialism respects religion no more than it respects the laws which govern all civilised communities . Therefore , while we have nothing to urge against this hew

crusade of the POPE against Socialism , while , indeed , we recognise that he is doing good service to mankind generally by bringing the whole of his influence to bear against these organisations , whose aim is to destroy the very basis of Society ,

we most emphatically demur to his assumption that Freemasonry has anything in common with Socialism or the sli ghtest sympathy with the objects which the latter has in view . Throughout the British Empire , and in the United States

likewise , there is rarely , if ever , the sli ghtest need to say anything in defence of our Order against attacks of this kind . Here it is very generally admitted , except by the bigots who will not be convinced , not only that we are a body from which no injury to

the cause of religion and good government is ever likely to arise , but that we constitute an important factor in their behalf . As we have said already , we do not concern ourselves about mere differences of religious or political opinion , but we do most

earnestly endeavour to instil into the minds of those who range themselves under our banner that it is the duty of every Mason to respect religion and obey the laws of the country to which he belongs or in which he may happen to reside .

We are aware there is a vast difference between Freemasonry as it is taught and practised in this country and the United States , and what passes for Freemasonry in many foreign countries , and we are fain to admit that in some continental States the Alasonic

lodges have so far broken from the true principles of the Craft as to have on occasions borne a conspicuous part in the reli gious and political controversies of the day . Our late Pro Grand Master , in his memorable speech at the installation of the Prince

of WALES , and at other times , admitted and deplored the existence of this difference between Freemasonry in some foreign parts and in English-speaking countries , but it is not just that the Institution as a whole should be condemned for the

misconduct of some of its branches . It would need a very intimate acquaintance with the inner life of the Italian Masonic lodges to determine to what , if any , extent they have exposed themselves to the attacks of the Papacy in this or other Encyclical letters ,

but if they have done anything to justify these anathemas , the fault is theirs in not having obeyed the teachings of the Craft , which is , or ought to be , absolutely impartial in its respect for all religions and all forms of government . In saying this , we

are not propounding any novel theory . We are stating a fact , and we state it thus broadly , as we have done in many a previous article , lest the public should run away with the idea that conduct which the POPE has condemned—whether rightly or

wrongly we offer no opinion—in the Italian Freemasons is in accordance with the true principles of Masonry as they aie understood and practised by English-speaking brethren . The

watchwords of the English Mason are Loyalty and Charity , so that it is impossible he can have anything in common with the Socialist ,